Agenda item

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which gives Members the opportunity to ask questions of the Director(s) who chair the Corporate Priority Board which matches the Scrutiny Board’s portfolio, or the Director’s nominee

As prior notice of questions had been received from Members, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which afforded Scrutiny Board Members the opportunity to put questions to the relevant service Director.

Rosemary Archer, Director of Children’s Services, was in attendance to answer Members’ questions.

(a). Who was responsible for exercising a ‘duty of care’ for children and young people travelling to and from school by contract buses? How were issues of behaviour, bullying and safety in the event of breakdown dealt with?

In response, the Director of Children’s Services informed Members that the Local Education Authority had a responsibility to provide appropriate facilities for home to school transportation and offer the same level of care which would be taken by any reasonable parent or guardian.

The Board was advised that although there was no national protocol relating to this issue, every effort was made to ensure that all legislative requirements were met. Having noted that a transport agency agreement was held between Education Leeds and Metro, Members were informed that all vehicles used for home to school transport were inspected every term and only those companies which adhered to the Council’s safety standards were contracted to provide such services.

Members also noted that in addition to a state of the art fleet of buses being introduced in Leeds, initiatives such as the ‘Safe Mark’ scheme and behaviour contracts had been introduced in conjunction with schools, which aimed to promote the behavioural standards of pupils whilst travelling on the buses.

Following the detailed response to the question, Members raised further issues in relation to the matter. The main areas of discussion were as follows:-

·  The Board suggested that the issue of home to school transport could be referred to the Young People’s Scrutiny Forum for further consideration;

·  Members asked to be informed of the results from an investigation into an incident relating to home to school transport which had triggered the original Members’ question;

·  The Board asked for information on the number of incidents involving school buses in Leeds;

·  Members enquired whether there was a code of practice for school transport and asked about the levels of training which were received by the drivers of the vehicles.

In conclusion, Members acknowledged the wide range of issues associated with home to school transport which had arisen from the discussion.

RESOLVED –

(a).That the information provided be noted;

(b). That the information requested by the Board be forwarded to Members for consideration;

(c). That the issue of home to school transport be referred to the Young People’s Scrutiny Forum for consideration.

(b). How many children in each ward were receiving free fruit?

Having noted that 29,511 pupils from 226 schools were receiving free fruit in Leeds, Members welcomed the large number of children who were benefiting from the national initiative and discussed the wider issues relating to the provision of free fruit in schools. The main areas of debate were as follows:-

·  The possibility of obtaining a ward breakdown of the figures;

·  The arrangements in place for the national initiative, specifically in relation to the age range of those pupils who benefited from it;

·  The possibility of the initiative being expanded to include those children using the Early Years Service;

·  The extension of the service in some schools to older children not covered by the free distribution, whether a consistent approach was being taken to charging in these circumstances, and the impact that such charges may have upon low income families. The Director of Children’s Services was asked for further information on charging practices.

In conclusion the Board welcomed both the nutritional and the broader educational value of the initiative, noted that at least one community group had undertaken to provide certain local schools with free fruit beyond the age range covered by national funding and enquired whether local businesses could also be encouraged to become involved in the programme.

RESOLVED –

(a). That the information provided be noted;

(b). That the information requested by the Board be forwarded to Members for consideration.